North Carolina's Rockingham County Votes To Install 'In God We Trust' In Government Building

Rockingham County is one of several counties in North Carolina that will soon have “In God We Trust” placed on a government building.

Last Monday, the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to install the national motto in the lobby of the Governmental Center. The move came quicker than a decision to spend $15,000 for the sheriff’s office to buy body cameras.

“Here we are in tough financial shape and for us to pull money out of the fund balance at this point of time is not wise,” Commissioner Keith Mabe, who supports the deputies wearing cameras, told the Greensboro News & Record.

Mabe wanted the cameras funded through grants, since other departments’ budgets were cut.

While the commissioners voted 4-1 — with Mabe opposed — to purchase the cameras, they asked Sheriff Sam Page to first try and find grant money.

Former Davidson County commissioner, Rick Lanier, who co-founded the U.S. Motto Action Committee, said: “We should not be ashamed of our national motto.”

The Stokes County Commission recently approved the request to install the phrase on the County Courthouse by Fred McClure, who is also a member of the committee and a Davison County commissioner, according to WFDD.

The group will raise funds for the installation of the letters, which is expected to cost up to $3,000.

Congress signed a resolution in 2011 declaring “In God We Trust” as the national motto. Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union have fought against the motto, saying it violates the separation church and state.

Other counties in North Carolina that have approved it include Alamance, Davidson, and Davie. McClure and the U.S. Motto Action Committee plan to ask all counties in the state to consider adding the phrase.